Cane



A. KOHL Sept. 16, 1952 CANE Filed July ALEXANDER KOHL INVENTORHUEBNEQBEEHLER. WORREL,

HERZ/G 8 CALDWELL ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 16, 1952 CANE 'Alexander-Kohl, Fresno, Calif., assignor of onehalf to Max L. Hoen,Fresno, Calif.

Application July 24,1950, Serial No'. 1'75,593

5. Claims. (01. 4085) The present invention relates to canes, and moreparticularly, to a combined cane and visual signaling device.

It is well known for, people who are blind to employ white canes toindicate to motorists and others their need for consideration. Suchcanes are. not as conspicuous as desired for safety purposes and arereadily confused .with many other objects which shoppers notinfrequently carry 1 in congested areas. It is generally recognized thata device. as convenient to employ as such a white cane but havingimproved signaling characteristics is needed for the protection of blindpeople, the physically handicapped, and

other pedestrians having need for special condependable in operation,and convenient'toyemploy.

Another object is to provide a combined cane and signal deviceparticularly suitedto the use of people who are. blind or physicallyhandicapped. Y

-'Another object is to provide .in a cane, the

combination of a flexible sheet member, means within the cane adapted tomount the sheet member and resiliently to retract the sheet memberwithinthe cane, and a manual control adapted to drawthe sheet memberfrom the cane for visual display thereofr- A further object 'is toprovide a compact, lightweight, andconvenient device whereby people whoare blind can readily call attentionto their condition .for safetyand.conveniencepurposes.

sun. further pbjects andi'advantages will ber come apparent in thesubsequent description'in; the specification:

y In the drawing, Fig. 1

for'c'arrying convenienca.

' i Fig. 2 1is aside elevation similar tdni fli fbut showing f thesignaling device withdrawn from thecane fordisplayf purposes. l

is aside elevation of a.

f combined cane and signaling device embodying [.the'principles ofthejpresent"invention, the signaling device being retracted within thecane Fig. 3 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary section through the cane,as taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig.4 is a transverse section of the cane taken on line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the cane and signaling device taken online 5--5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the cane and signaling device with thelatter in retracted position, as taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing:

A cane embodying the principles of the pres--, ent invention isindicated generally at I!) and the signaling apparatus at H. The caneprovides a shank l2 and a handle l3 continuous with the shank, both of awell known form. As shown in the drawing, the shankhas a solidrod-likelower end portion M, a hollow cylindrical central portion l5,and a solid rod-like upper end portion IS. The upper end portion and thehandle are conveniently formed in unitary relation and the handle l3,upper end por tion I6, central portion l5, and lower end portion l4 madefrom wood, plastic, metal, or other suitable material.

As shown in Fig. 3, the, lower end portion M and the upper 'end'portionl6 have juxtapositioned ends which constitute end walls for the hollowcylindrical central portion [5.

A hollow tubular member 20 interconnects the lower end portion l4 andthe upper end portion [6 in fixed spaced relation. Said end portions arefitted to the tubular member and rigidly connected thereto, as by screws2|.

} of the shank toward which the return bent handie extends.

An axial bore 24 is formed concentrically in the upper end of the lowerend portion and the lower end of the upper end portion provided with adiametrical slot 25. A hollow roller cylinder 2'! has a journalmember'28 fixedly mounted at an end thereof providing a shaft portion 29rotatably extendedinto the axial bore 24. A bearing 30 is mounted in theopposite end of the cylinder.v A shaft 32 is rotatably mounted in thebearing 39 and provides a flattened end 33 engaged in the slot 25 topreclude rotation of the shaft relative to the shank l2. The oppositeend of the shaft 32 is rotatably mounted in the journal member 28, asshown at 34; A spiral torsion spring 35 has one end connected to thejournal member 2c and another end connected to the shaft 32.

A substantially rectangular sheet 31 of flexible material such as cloth,paper, or plastic ha an inner edge 38 connected longitudinally of thecylinder 21 and is rolled around the cylinder. The spring is mountedunder initial torsion so that the sheet 31 is resiliently maintained inrolled position about the cylinder. The sheet has an outer edge 39. Anelongated rigid edge member is afiixed to the outer edge 33 of thesheet. The edge member conveniently consists of a strip 4| of metal orother suitable material riveted to a plate 42 with the outer edge 39 ofthe sheet sandwiched therebetween. 42 is transversely arcuate to fitagainst the periphery of the cylindrical central portion [5 of the shankin closing relation to the slot 22. A

bead 43 is preferably provided along one sideof the slot 22 on thetubular member 20 and acts as a positioning stop for the plate when inretracted position. The plate has an edge 44 extended outwardly from thetubular member 29 and is provided with a guideway 45 longitudinallythereof. I

A trigger 41 is pivotally mounted adjacent to the centra1 portion I 5 onthe shank in alignment with the slot 20 by means of a pair of spacedflanges 48 extended from the shank and a pin 49 extended through theflanges and the trigger transversely of the shank. A lever arm 50 isextended from the trigger longitudinally of the shankadjacent to theslot 22. .A headed follower 5| is mounted on the extended end of thelever arm in slidable engagement with the guide way 45. The trigger andthe lever arm are conveniently integrally formed in obtuse angulararrangement so that when the lever arm is substantially parallel withthe shank [2, as shown in'Fig. 1, the trigger is conveniently disposedfor operation adjacent to the handle l3.

It will be obvious that any desired type of indicia 53 may be displayedon the sheet 31, but for use by people who are blind, the word blind ismost suitably employed.

Operation I The operation of the device of the present invention isbelieved to be clearly apparent and is briefly summarized at this point.In the absence of any pressure on the trigger 4?, th spring '35maintains the sheet '37 tightly rolled about the roller cylinder 21 withthe plateportion 42 of the edge member iii! incoveringrelation to theslot 522 seated against the bead 43, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. In-suchcondition the device is utilized solely as a cane.

When it is desired to "display the 'in'dioia 53, the trigger] is pressedtoward theshank l2 pivoting the lever arm as outwardly from the shankand through engagement of the follower 5| in the guideway 45 the sheet37 is forcibly drawn outwardly through the slot 22 rotating the rollercylinder 21 against the effect of the torsion spring 35. With thetrigger maintained in such position and the sheet 31 with its indicia 53thus prominently displayed, a person employing the cane readily succeedsin drawing attention to himself and to. the message provided by theindicia 53. I 7

When the trigger 4! is released, the torsion spring 35 being underincreased torsion incident to the display .of the sheet 31, promptlyretracts the sheet and winds the-sameabout the cylinder 21 until theplate 42 returns toits positionin closing relation to the slot 22 and isseated against the bead 4.3.

The plate 4 The device of the present invention is simple in structure,economical to produce, and is fully effective in the displaying of anydesired predetermined message in a manner that readily attractsattention. It is a source of comfort to blind people and othersemploying it and being conspicuous readily elicits from motorists andothers the type of consideration and courtesy desired. V

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what isconceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of theinvention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed hereinbut is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace anyand all equivalent devices and systems.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

l. The combination .of acane having a handle and a hollow shank, a sheetof flexible material having a pair of opposite edges, retraction meansmounted within the shank connected to an edge of the sheet, a triggerpivotally mounted on the shank, an elongated rigid .edge member having aguideway formed longitudinally therein afiixed to the edge of thesheetopposite to the retraction means, and a control linkage slidablyengaged in the ,guideway of the edge member having controlled connectionto the trigger whereby in response to trigger operation the sheet isdrawn into a position extended from the shank and tensioned between saidcontrol linkage and the retraction means.

2. A signaling cane comprising an elongated hollow shank -having-alongitudinal slot formed therein, a sheet of flexible material having aninner edge extended through the slot into the shank and an outer edgeextended outwardly of the slot, resilient retraction means mountedwithin the shank connected to the inner edge of the sheet, and manualcontrol means mounted on the shank, .said control means having a triggerportion and a lever arm portion of unitary construction, being pivotallymounted on the shank, and the lever arm portion being connected to theouter edge of the sheet whereby pivotal movement of the control meansdraws the sheet out- Wardly of the slot in opposition to the retractionmeans. 7 r

3. A signaling cane comprising a shank having a hollow centralportiondeflned'by a substantially cylindrical wall and opposite axial endwalls, the cylindrical wall having a slot formed longitudinally therein;a return bent handle continuous with the shank; a hollow roller cylinderpositioned within the central portion of the shank; a journal memberfixedly mounted in an end of the roller cylinder'and rotatably mountedsubstantially concentrically an end wall of the central portion; abearing mounted in the end of the roller cylinder opposite to thejournalmember adjacent to an end wall of the central portion, the end wall.adjacent to the bearing being diametrically slotted a shaft having aflattened end portion extended into, the slot in the end wall.rotatablymounted in the hearing. and having anopposite end. portion.rotatably mounted the journal member concenrically within the rollercylinder; a orsion sprin in circumscribing relation to the shaft withinthe roller cylinder having an end connected to the journal member andanopposite .endJconnected to the shaft; .a rectangular sheet of ,fiex- Hible material wrapped about the roller cylinder having an inner edgeconnected to the roller cyl-; inder and an opposite edge extendedthrough the slot in the shank; and manual control means having a triggerportion and a lever arm por-' tion of unitary construction, pivotallymounted on the shank, and the lever arm portion being connected to theouter edge of the sheet whereby pivotal movement of the control meansdraws the sheet outwardly of the slot in opposition to the retractionmeans.

4. The combination of a cane having an elongated hollow shank with alongitudinal slot formed therein and a handle continuous with the shank,a trigger pivotally mounted on the shank adjacent to the handle inalignment with the slot and on an axis transversely of the slot, a

lever arm integral with the trigger extended longitudinally of the slot,a roller rotatably mounted within the shank adjacent to the slot, asheet of fiexiblematerial having an inner edge connected longitudinallyof the roller and an outer edge extended outwardly of the slot, saidsheet bearing visual signal indicia, an elongated rigid edge memberafiixedto the outer edge of the sheet and having a guideway formedlongitudinally therein, a follower mounted on the extended end of thelever arm and slidably engaged in the guideway of the edge member, and atorsion spring within the shank interconnecting the roller and the shankand rotatably urging the roller to retract the sheet within the shank.

5. A signaling cane comprising a shank having a hollow central portiondefined by a substantially cylindrical wall and opposite axial endwalls, the

cylindrical wall having a slot formed longitudinally therein; a returnbent handle continuous with the shank; a hollow roller cylinderpositioned within the central portion of the shank; a journal memberfixedly mounted in an end of the roller cylinder and rotatably mountedsubstantially concentrically in an end wall of the central portion; abearing mounted in the end the guideway of the flange portion of therigid of the roller cylinder opposite to the journal member adjacent toan end wall of the centralportion, the "end wall adjacent to the bearingbeing diametrically slotted; a shaft having a flattened end portionextended into the slot in the end Wall, rotatably mounted in thebearing, and

' having an opposite end portion rotatably mounted in the journal memberconcentrically within the roller cylinder; a torsion spring incircumscribing relation to' the shaft within the roller cylinder havingan end' connected to the journal member and an opposite end connected tothe shaft; a rectangular sheet of flexible material wrapped about theroller cylinder having an inner edge connected to the roller cylinderand an opposite edge extended through the slot in the shank; anelongated rigid edge member afiixed v to the extended edge of the sheethaving a transversely arcuate plate portion fitted to the exterior ofthe shank in covering relation to the slot and a flange portion formedwith a guide-r way longitudinally thereof parallel to the shank; atrigger pivotally mounted on the shank in alignment with the slotadjacent to the handle on a pivotal axis transversely of the slot; alever arm integral with the trigger extended longitudinally of the slot;and a follower mounted on the extended end of the lever arm inengagement with edge member.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent: I

UNITED STATES PATENTS v Number Name Date 490,722 Pugh Jan; 31, 1893498,187 Pugh May 23, 1893 1,542,894 Langner Jan. 23, 1925 Rugg Aug. 5,194% ALEXANDER KOHL.

